Suspension apparatus for bundle conductors



Feb. 5, 1963 A. D. LANTZ EIAI. 3,076,864

SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR BUNDLE CONDUCTORS Filed July 13, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN T 0R5 ROBERT W. HA RMON 8 BY ALPHA D. LANTZ ATTORNEY Feb. 5, 1963 A. D. LANTZ EIYAI. 3,076,864

SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR BUNDLE CONDUCTORS Filed July 13, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS ROBERT W. HARMON 8 By ALPHA D. LANTZ ATTORNEY SUSPENSION APPARATUS FOR BUNDLE CONDUCTORS Filed July 13, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TORS ROBERT w. HARMON a y ALPHA D. LANTZ ATTORNEY 3,076,864 ElUEihENSlQN AFPARAZTUS 356R liUNDlLE CQNDUCTQRS' Alpha l1. Lantz Barberton, and Robert W. Harmon, Doylestown, Shin, assignors to The (lhio Brass Company, Mansfield, one, a corporation of New Jersey Filed July 13, 196i), Ser. No. 42,651

19 (Claims. (Ci. 174 -141) This invention relates to electric power lines and more particularly to lines constituted by a plurality of part conductors connected and arranged as a single or phase conductor of the line.

in R. W. Harmon and A. D. Lantz application, Serial No. 23,737, filed April 21, 1960, entitled Suspension Apparatus for Bundle Conductors, we have described a new and novel suspension apparatus for line conductors of the type referred to above, otherwise known as bundie conductors. In the apparatus shown and described in that application, the part conductors are held in transversely spaced relation by a suspension plate which is carried by one or more strings of insulators. The disposition and arrangement of the conductor cables is such that the line voltage is divided among the several insulators of the insulator string in a relatively uniform way. The principal results of the construction and arrangement of the apparatus are that corona and radio noise effects are minimized and that the use rings and other shielding devices is obviated.

The present invention similarly relates to line conductors having a plurality of part conductors and to arrangements for mechanically carrying conductor cables from a string of suspension insulators. In the apparatus of the present invention, the top line conductor or line conductors are supported by a suspension plate so as to carry the conductor cables in vertical proximity to the insulators. Various arrangements of two, three, or tour conductor cables are shown, together with advantageous connections of the bottom conductor cables to the suspension plate, by suspension or support thereof. The apparatus described herein improves the distribution of line voltage between the insulators of the suspension string, being similar to the apparatus set forth in the Harmon and Lantz application referred to above, in functional respects. The improved voltage distribution is accomplished by an arrangement in which the conductor cables are supported, at the top of the suspension plate, by trunnion and stanchion devices, thus permitting support of the conductors at a greater elevation with respect to the insulator string than has heretofore been possible, while achieving the mechanical stability of the apparatus of A. D. Lantz application, Serial No. 23,828, filed April 21, 1960.

The invention, together with further objects, features and advantages thereof, is described in the following specification and claims and is illustrated in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a four cable bundle conductor and suspension apparatus according to the invention;

Fl. 2 is a view of the suspension apparatus of FIG. 1, taken in the direction 22 of FIG. I, particularly showof grading United States Patent Cfiice iifilhfifi i Fatented Feb. 5, 1953 2 ing the transverse disposition of the suspension plate and the conductor cables;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial view apparatus of FlGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a top view taken in the direction 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a suspension apparatus for a three cable bundle conductor with a single insulator string;

FIG; 6 illustrates an embodiment of the invention, similar to that of FIG. 5, in an arrangement utilizing plural insulator strings; and v H6. 7 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in a suspension apparatus for a two cable bundle conductor, with plural insulator strings.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a transmission line apparatus Iii) in which four conductor cables ll, l2, l3 and 14 are carried by means of a string of suspension insulators 15. The conductors ll to is are supported by a suspension plate 16 and held by conductor clamps i7, l3, l9 and The conductor clamps 17 to 2% are c rried by stanchious, indicated generally at 21, 22, 23 and 24-, constituting extensions from the body 25 of the suspension plate 15.

T he suspension plate 16 is connected to the end insulator 26 of the string or" insulators by means of a socket link 27 and suspension pin 28. The link 27 is formed as a socket connector at the top end to receive a ball connector of the insulator 26, and as a clevis at the bottom end to receive the in 23, which extends through the link and the suspension plate 16.

The body 25 of the plate 1d has the stanchions 2i and 22 formed at the top lateral extremities thereof supporting the two top conductor clamps l7 and 1S and cables 11 and 12. The stanchions 23 and 24, formed at the lower transverse extremities of the suspension plate 16, carry the two bottom conductor clamps l9 and 21 9 and the conductor cables 13 which hold 14-, respectively. The resultant arrangement of the conductor cables is such that the two top cables 11 and 332 are supported in proximity to the string of insulators l5 and that the line voltages are uniformly divided between the several in sulators.

As will be evident from FIGS. 3 and 4, the stanchion 21 includes two upright parts and 31 which are formed integrally with the body 2d of the suspension plate 16. The parts 3@ and 31 define a recess 32 which extends between the parts 3 1% and 31 and with a depth sufficient to accommodate the conductor clamp 17.

The conductor clamp 17 is carried upon two pivots, constituted by two set screws 3d and The inner ends of the screws 34 and 35 are generally comically shaped and are received in complementary openings in the body of the clamp 17 so that the clamp is free to pivot in a plane vertically through the cable 11. Each of the stanchions 22, 23 and 24 are similar to the stanchion 21, although the stanchions 23 and 24 are inverted with respect to the body 25 of the suspension plate and the stanchions 21 and 22.

A shield member 36 is joined to the body 25 along the lateral extremity thereof and provides a smooth longitudinally extending surface for corona and radio noise conof the suspension aoraeaa trol while increasing the mechanical strength of the plate. The part 36 extends beyond the part Bill to constitute a conductor shield 37 in the form of a smooth arcuate member extending above the conductor cable ill. The member 37 tends to diminish localized stresses in the vicinity of the clamp 17 and, accordingly, to reduce corona and radio noise. A s iield member 3% along the opposite side of the body 25 and a conductor shield 39 above the cable 12 functions in the same way as the shield member 36 and the conductor shield 37.

Supporting the two top conductors 11 and 12 above the level of the body 25 of the suspension plate 16 by means of the stanchions 21 and 222 results in a favorable relation of the conductors l1 and 12 with respect to the string of suspension insulators 15. Thus, as set forth in application Serial No. 23,737, idem, the capacitance between the cables and the middle insulators of the string is such, relative to the capacitance between the cables and insulators at the end of the string, that the capacitance between the individual insulators and the conductor cables is relatively uniform along the string of insulators. Accordingly, the distribution of charging currents is substantially uniform along the string and the division of line to ground voltage between the insulators is essentially equal.

The arrangement of the suspension apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, in which the conductor cables 13 and 14 are carried by two arms disposed below and extending in the lateral direction from the line of pivotal support of the suspension pin 28, is such that the weight of the conductors 1.3 and lid is efiective to produce restoring forces substantially in excess of the disturbing forcesdue to the Weights of the conductors 11 and 12. Thus the favorable disposition of the top conductor cables 11 and 12 with respect to the insulator 15 is accomplished in a structure which is mechanically stable with respect to pivotal movements about the suspension pin.

The apparatus 4t? of H6. comprises a three cable conductor bundle in which a suspension plate ll is carried from an insulator 42 of a string of insulators 43; two top conductor cables, 44 and .5, are supported on two stanchions as and 47 by means of conductor clamps 48 and 49; and a bottom conductor 5th is suspended from the bottom of the plate 41 in alignment with the insulator 42 by means of a suspension clamp 51. The insulator 5-2 is connected to suspension plate 41 by means of a link 52, similar to the link 27 in FIG. 2, and the stanchions 4s and 47 are similar to the stanchions 21 and 22 of the suspension plate 16 also of FIG. 2. The suspension clamp 51 is connected to the suspension plate 41 by means of a clevis 53 and a pin 54.

in the arrangement of FIG. 5, the top conductor cables 44 and 45 provide a uniform division of the line voltage between several insulators of the string d3 as has been described in connection with the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2. The arrangement of the conductor cable e'tl, e.g., by

suspension at the center of the plate below the insulator 42, stabilizes the conductor assembly with respect to pivotal movements about pin 55 also as described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 2.

The apparatus as of FIG. 6 is generally similar to the apparatus as of FIG. 5. That is, a three cable conductor bundle is carried by the suspension plate till with the two top conductor cables supported at the top of the plate by means of stanchions, and the third conductor suspended from the lower extremity of the suspension plate. Thus the stanchion s2 and the conductor clamp 63 correspond to the stanchion 4'7 and conductor clamp 49 in FIG. 5, and the suspension clamp 64- corresponds to the suspension clamp Ell in PlG. 5. In the apparatus as. the suspension plate 61 is carried by two strings of insulators 65 and an. The endmost insulators of the strings of insulators are connected to two plates 67 and as respectively which are welded or otherwise secured to the suspension plate 61 along the center line thereof. The apparatus as is ad- 4 vantageous in that equal voltage division between the insulators of each string is promoted with good mechanical stability in the transverse and longitudinal direction of the line conductor with division of the load between the two insulator strings.

The apparatus 70 of FIG. 7 comprises a two cable conductor bundle in which a suspension plate 71 is carried by two insulator strings '72 and '73 to support two con ductor cables '74 and 75. The suspension plate 71 issymmetrically formed with respect to a vertical center line through the plate and comprises a body '76 with an up-' wardly extending part '77 formed at the top extremity thereof as a stanchion '78 which supports the conductor clamp 79 for the conductor cable 74. The bottom part of the body 76 is formed as a downwardly extending part 89 with a stanchion 8?. at the extremity thereof. The stanchion Elli carries a conductor clamp 82 for holding the conductor cable 75. The stanchions 7S and 81 are similar to the stanchions described in connection with H68. 1 and 2.

The end insulators 83 and 84 of the insulator strings 72 and '73 are connected to the transverse extremities of the body 76 of the suspension plate by the links 85 and 86 and pins 87 and 38.

Inasmuch, as the conductor cables 74 and 75 are sym metrically disposed with respect to the insulator strings '72 and 73. in the transverse direction and, because of the proximity of the conductor cable 74 to the insulators of the middle portion of the strings, it will be seen that a favorable distribution of voltage between individual insulators of the strings is accomplished. The arrangement of the conductor '75 imparts desirable mechanical stability characteristics in addition to the anti-swing characteristics of the dual string support.

The features and advantages of the instant invention with respect to the apparatus of the prior art may be summarized as follows: the close proximity of the conductor system, and especially the top conductor or conductors, to the insulator string made possible through the use of this invention results in a greatly improved dis tribution ofvoltages along the insulator string. That is, the voltage distribution approaches the ideal situation in which each unit of the insulator'string carries the same voltage in magnitude equal to the total line-to-ground voltage divided by the number of insulators in the string, to a degree heretofore unknown.

The eifect of the improved voltage distributionis to decrease the portion of the line voltage carried by the insulators at the energized end of the insulator string. This reduces, or even eliminates, corona discharges and radio noise interference from the insulator string.

Further the use of a shorter insulator string permits 'smaller spacing between line conductors with a consequent reduction of line inductance; shorter insulator strings reduce tower costs because of the lesser height of tower required; and, finally, some reduction in right of way requirements is achieved.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is not intended to restrict the scope of the invention and that various rearrangements of the parts and modifications of the design may be resorted to. The following claims are directed to combinations of elements which embody the invention or inventions of this application.

We claim:

l. Intransmission line apparatus, a bundle conductor comprising a plurality of conductor cables, means holdmg the conductor cables in transversely spaced relation comprising a suspension plate, suspension means for the said bundle conductor comprising a series string of suspension insulators for carrying the said bundle conductor in insulated relation to a supporting means, means connecting a bottom end one of the said suspension insulators to the suspension plate at the top central part thereof with the said end one of the insulators adjacent the plate and including a pivotal connection for relative movement of the suspension plate "and insulators at least in the plane of the plate, the said suspension plate having stanchion means at each of the top lateral extremities thereof extending rigidly from the body of the plate in the direction of the said insulators, two conductor clamps supported one by one and one by the other of -the said stanchion means above the level of the said pivotal connection and two of the said conductor cables carried one in one and one in the other of the said clamps substantially 'at the level of the said end one of the suspension insulators, and means carrying the remainder of the said conductor cables from the suspension plate comprising a conductor clamp for each of the said remainder of the cables and inter-connected with the suspension plate below the level of the said connecting means in transversely symmetrical arrangement with respect to the said pivotal connection, all for suspension of the said bundle conductor from the said suspension insulators with substantially uniform capacitances between the individual insulators and the bundle conductor and in mechanical stable condition with respect to the said supporting means.

2. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the said bundle conductor has four conductor cables and two of the conductor cables constituting the said remainder are carried at opposite sides of the suspension plate in symmetrical disposition with respect to the said pivotal connection by means connected to the suspension plate substantially below the first named two conductor cables.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2 in which the suspension plate has separately formed downwardly extending parts for carrying the said remainder two conductor cables.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the said bundle conductor is constituted by three conductor cables and the third conductor cable is suspended from the suspension plate by means connected to the suspension plate vertically below the said connecting means.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 4 in which two strings of suspension insulators are connected to the suspension plate centrally thereof in equal and opposite longitudinal directions of the plate.

6. The invention in accordance with claim 1 in which the suspension plate is carried by two strings of suspension insulators connected to the plate at opposite sides thereof below the said suspension clamps and conductor cables.

7. Transmission line apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which conductive shield members extend along the suspension plate in the vertical direction at the transverse extremities thereof and over and above the conductor cables in symmetrically opposite relation with respect to the insulators.

8. Suspension apparatus for the conductor cables of a bundle conductor comprising a suspension plate having stanchion means projecting rigidly from the body of the plate at the top extremity thereof and a conductor clamp supported by the said stanchion means, means for connecting an insulator to the said suspension plate below the level of the said stanchion means, and means for bolding a conductor cable carried from the said suspension plate at a point below the said connecting means in transversely symmetrical relation therewith.

9. The invention in accordance with claim 8 with two stanchions and two conductor clamps at the top extremity of the suspension plate and a suspension insulator connected to the body of the suspension plate centrally between the two stanchion means.

10. The invention in accordance with claim 9 in which two suspension insulators are connected one to one and one to the other of two projections extending oppositely from the suspension plate in the longitudinal directions therefrom and centrally between the stanchions.

11. The invention in accordance with claim 8 in which 6 two suspension insulators are connected to the suspension plate symmetrically on oppostie sides of the suspension clamp.

12. In transmission line apparatus, a bundle conductor comprising a plurality of conductor cables, means holding the conductor cables in transversely spaced relation comprising a suspension plate, means carrying the said conductor cables from the suspension plate comprising at least stanchion means at the top lateral extremities of the plate, conductor clamps for the cables, and pivotal means supporting the clamps on the said stanchions, suspension means for the said bundle conductor comprising at least two strings of suspension insulators for carrying the said bundle conductor in insulated relation to a supporting means, two members extending oppositely from the central part of the said suspension plate in the longitudinal direction of the said cables, and means connecting the bottom end one of the insulators of each string to the said oppositely extending members, one to one and one to the other thereof, at points below the level of the said conductor clamps, with the said end one insulator closely adjacent the member in each instance all whereby the said cables carried by the said stanchions are carried in elevated relation to the said suspension insulators for equalizing the insulator to bundle conductor capacitances and promoting equal division of line voltage between the insulators of the strings.

13. The invention in accordance with claim 12 with means suspending a conductor cable from the suspension plate below the level of the said oppositely extending members and in vertical alignment therewith for promoting stability of the said apparatus with respect to mechanical movements about the lower extremity of the strings of suspension insulators.

14. In transmission line apparatus, a bundle conductor comprising a plurality of conductor cables, means holding the conductor cables in spaced relation comprising a suspension member characterized by transverse width and vertical height, means for carrying the said bundle conductor in insulated relation to a supporting means comprising a string of suspension insulators, means connecting a bottom end one of the said suspension insulators to the suspension member with a pivotal connection for relative movement thereof, at least in the plane of the plate, stanchion means at a top vertical extremity of the member extending rigidly :from the member generally in the direction or" the said insulator string, a conductor clamp carried by the said stanchion means, and a conductor cable carried in the said clamp, the said clamp and the said conductor cable being disposed above the level of the said pivotal connection, and means carrying the remainder of the said plurality of conductor cables from the suspension member connected to the member in transversely symmetrical arrangement with respect to the said pivotal connection, all for suspension of the said bundle conductor with the first named conductor cable disposed adjacent the insulators of the said string for substantially uniform division of voltages therebetween and with mechanically stable relation of the bundle conductor to the insulators.

v15. Transmission line apparatus in accordance with claim 14 in which the end one of the insulators connected to the suspension plate by the said connecting means is disposed below the level of the, first named conductor cable.

16. A suspension plate for carrying conductor clamps for the conductor cables of a bundle conductor comprising a metal body characterized principally by transverse width and vertical height and adapted to be carried by a suspension insulating means, stanchion means at a top vertical extremity of the body constituted by two fixed transversely spaced projections from the body for receiving a conductor clamp, and pivot means on the said projections spaced from the said body for carrying a conductor clamp from opposite sides thereof.

17. The invention in accordance with claim 16 with two said stanchion means at the transverse extremities of the body.

18. The invention in accordance with claim 17 with means at the bottom extremity of the body centrally in '5 the transverse direction thereof for suspending a conductor clamp therefrom.

19. The invention in accordance with claim 16 with two similar stanchion means at the transverse extremities of the bottom extremity of the body, and inverted with m respect to the stanchion means at the top of the body.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Frey et al July 5, 1949 Kaminski et a1 Oct. 28, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 24, 1934 Austria May 10, 1955 

16. A SUSPENSION PLATE FOR CARRYING CONDUCTOR CLAMPS FOR THE CONDUCTOR CABLES OF A BUNDLE CONDUCTOR COMPRISING A METAL BODY CHARACTERIZED PRINCIPALLY BY TRANSVERSE WIDTH AND VERTICAL HEIGHT AND ADAPTED TO BE CARRIED BY A SUSPENSION INSULATING MEANS, STANCHION MEANS AT A TOP VERTICAL EXTREMITY OF THE BODY CONSTITUTED BY TWO FIXED TRANSVERSELY SPACED PROJECTIONS FROM THE BODY FOR RECEIVING A CONDUCTOR CLAMP, AND PIVOT MEANS ON THE SAID PROJECTIONS SPACED FROM THE SAID BODY FOR CARRYING A CONDUCTOR CLAMP FROM OPPOSITE SIDES THEREOF. 